Trends - Green Is Good

Green-Colored Items Offer Bold Alternatives For Promotional Buyers

Oct 1, 2012 – by Alissa Tallman

Green-colored items offer bold alternatives for promotional buyers.

Green in all its various shades has received attentive upgrading within the promotional apparel arena. Whether it's a refreshing mint green, a dark army green or Pantone's margarita, there's a unique green hue waiting to be chosen. An enduring symbol of prosperity and fertility, the proliferation of green apparel conveys an optimistic message about the economy and the world at large.

Danny Tsai, vice president of merchandising for Tri-Mountain (asi/92125), points out that last autumn's New York Fashion Week sported a great deal of green. This trend is finally beginning to "trickle into our corner of the fashion world," Tsai says. Tri-Mountain has recently produced several performance-wear items featuring revamped greens, such as grass, chlorophyll and apple.

Tsai attributes the popularity of green to a need to replace the sober and subdued hues of past seasons. "Updated greens are just the latest trend in getting bolder with colors after we went through the monochromatic and neutral earth-tone phases over the last few years," he says. He explains that the popularity of such a bright hue is a good sign in terms of the national economic outlook. "We do sense that distributors and end-users alike are a bit more economically optimistic overall, which may be fueling the demand for livelier colors."

Melissa Tichauer, director of public relations and marketing for TSF Sportswear (asi/90522), commends green for its bold assertiveness. "Green is a vibrant, enthusiastic hue that is perfect for promotional apparel," she says. "It has a youthful feel that corresponds with spring and summer." Because green is such a versatile hue in terms of color-matching, Tichauer says, it's easily applicable across industry lines. She suggests considering landscaping companies, restaurants and resorts and even health-related organizations as clients to pitch the color to.

"There's been a huge spike in the demand for green in the golf-shirt and activewear categories," Tsai says, particularly in the corporate arena. He adds that green would be great for the agriculture, travel and tourism industries.